Abstract: A contact pad is provided having a load-engaging front surface and an oppositely-facing rear surface, preferably comprising a cast metal contact pad having at least one depression adjacent to the rear surface and a tile embedded within the depression such that the tile has an exposed surface, and a wear element on the exposed surface. A method for manufacturing a contact pad having a load-engaging front surface and an oppositely-facing rear surface preferably includes the steps of embedding a mild steel tile within a contact pad casting pattern such that, once embedded, the embedded tile has an exposed weldable surface, casting the contact pad from ductile cast iron and applying a wear element on the weldable surface.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device provides a support cushion (15) including a cushion body (20) and at least two inserts (50). The cushion body has a plurality of stiffener passages (22). The at least two inserts are stiffening inserts shaped to correspond to the stiffener passages. The cushion body is made from a first material having a first hardness. One of the at least two inserts is made from a first material, having substantially the same first hardness as the cushion body, and the second insert is made from a second material having a second hardness, the second hardness being different than the first hardness.

Abstract: A device fits over a shoe to prevent contaminants from the shoe from soiling a support surface such as the carpet or floor of a home. The shoe has a toe and a heel. The device includes a front section which is shaped and dimensioned to receive the toe of the shoe, and a rear section which is shaped and dimensioned to receive the heel of the shoe. A center section is used to removably connect the front section to the rear section. The center section is fabricated from a resilient material so that it can be expanded to receive the shoe, and then will resiliently contract to grip the shoe.

Abstract: A horseshoe made from rubber or an elastomeric material has a tread portion with a plurality of interconnected side-by-side hollow cylindrical buttons. The buttons are open at their upper ends and their lower ends are covered by a thin film of the rubber or elastomeric material. The horseshoe is attached to the horse's hoof with an adhesive and sufficient adhesive is applied to the tread portion to fill the buttons with adhesive material and provide a thin layer of the adhesive material between the tread portion and the hoof when the horseshoe is pushed toward the hoof.

Abstract: A horseshoe made from rubber or an elastomeric material has a tread portion with a plurality of interconnected side-by-side hollow cylindrical buttons. The buttons are open at their upper ends and their lower ends are covered by a thin film of the rubber or elastomeric material. The horseshoe is attached to the horse's hoof with an adhesive and sufficient adhesive is applied to the tread portion to fill the buttons with adhesive material and provide a thin layer of the adhesive material between the tread portion and the hoof when the horseshoe is pushed toward the hoof.

Abstract: A horseshoe having a metal shoe and a shock-absorbing pad abutting it and between it and the horse's hoof. A stud on each of the pads is cemented into a recess in each arm of the to resist shear and peeling forces on the pad.

Abstract: A shoeing system for horses' hooves comprises a shoe (3) and shoe insert (2) of shock-absorbing material between the hoof and shoe. The single-part or multiple-part insert (2) is matched to the shape of the horse shoe (3) and is nailed in the front area between the hoof and shoe and can move in the rear area with the hoof relative to the shoe. This mobility is ensured by a sliding member (26) situated between the insert (2) and the shoe (3) and capable of moving relative to the shoe. In the heel area, the insert is provided on its inner side with beading (22) which both permits and restricts displacement of the insert.

Abstract: A horseshoe arrangement comprising individually replaceable wearing parts which makes it possible to increase the life of the parts of a horseshoe which are worn-out. Consequently, the horseshoe arrangement comprises separate nail-receiving devices which are mounted in holes of a basis profile as well as wearing soles and locking devices. The individual parts may be replaced according to requirement when these are worn-out without replacing the remaining parts, if these are not yet completely worn-out.

Abstract: A horseshoe having a shock absorbing layer and a metal frame which are tightly coupled to each other due to protrusions and depressions. The shock absorbing layer has an arc-shaped protrusion formed at its bottom front, a plurality of uniformly spaced small protrusions formed on opposite side arms of the layer, a pair of circular protrusions downwardly formed on both ends of the layer. The metal frame has first and second protrusions downwardly longitudinally extending from its lower surface throughout its length, a center protrusion being formed between the first and second protrusions, a first depression being provided between the first and center protrusions, a second depression provided between the second and center protrusions and having a tapered shape.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing, cushioned horseshoe that substantially absorbs the shock encountered by a horse's hooves and legs when the horse is running or jumping. The cushioned horseshoe is defined by a mounting plate which is adapted with a plurality of interlocking channel members, wherein one of the channel members includes a plurality of longitudinal locking rib members, whereby a nail may be driven through the horseshoe to engage each locking rib member so as to prevent the nail from being inadvertently loosened after the nail has been driven into the hoof of a horse. Fixedly attached to the mounting plate is a ground-engaging sole member that includes openings which are aligned with the holes which are formed in the mounting plate. The sole member consists of a non-slip, wear resistant, resilient material that is adapted for direct engagement with the ground surface.

Abstract: The horseshoe assembly of the present invention comprises a U-shaped pad member having one or more glide clips attached thereto around its outer circumference. Each of the glide clips has a glide surface protruding a short distance below the bottom surface of the pad member. The coefficient of friction of the glide members is less than that of the pad member. At least one elongated stud is fitted within a stud receiving hole in the bottom surface of the pad member and includes a lower stud end protruding below the bottom surface of the pad member.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing, cushioned horseshoe that substantially absorbs the shock encountered by a horse's hooves and legs when the horse is running or jumping. The cushioned horseshoe is defined by a mounting plate which is adapted with a plurality of interlocking channel members, wherein one of the channel members includes a plurality of longitudinal locking rib members, whereby a nail may be driven through the horseshoe to engage each locking rib member so as to prevent the nail from being inadvertently loosened after the nail has been driven into the hoof of a horse. Fixedly attached to the mounting plate is a ground-engaging sole member that includes openings which are aligned with the holes which are formed in the mounting plate. The sole member consists of a non-slip, wear resistant, resilient material that is adapted for direct engagement with the ground surface.

Abstract: The horseshoe assembly of the present invention comprises a U-shaped pad member having one or more glide clips attached thereto around its outer circumference. Each of the glide clips has a glide surface protruding a short distance below the bottom surface of the pad member. The coefficient of friction of the glide members is less than that of the pad member. A modified form of the invention utilizes a metal plate between the pad member and the horse's hoof. The metal plate has a small roller at its forward edge. A further modification comprises casting a plurality of shoes in various shapes and sizes capable of fitting directly to horses' hooves without further reshaping of the shoes.

Abstract: The invention defines a non-slip, shock-absorbing, cushioned horseshoe that substantially absorbs the shock encountered by a horse's hooves and legs when the horse is running or jumping. The cushioned horseshoe is defined by a base or mounting plate which is adapted with a plurality of boss members having locking holes, and a ground-engaging sole or body member that includes openings which are aligned with the locking holes of the mounting plate so as to receive and lock nails that are driven therein. The sole member consists of a wear-resistant, resilient material that is fixedly secured to the mounting plate for direct engagement with the ground surface. The resilient material is molded to the lower surface of the mounting plate and is received in a V-shaped channel having securing holes disposed therein, whereby the resilient material becomes fixedly secured to the lower mounting surface of the mounting plate during the molding process to prevent separation therefrom.

Abstract: A heel sock for a horseshoe and formed of a tubular body of yieldable material, such as rubber, neoprene or plastic, such as polyurethane. The body is open at one end and has means at the opposite end for limiting the extend to which the body can be placed on the heel end of a horseshoe. The inner surface of the body will frictionally engage the outer surface of the heel of the horseshoe. A nail can be driven into and through the shoe and into the hoof of the horse. The body can have a projection thereon and integral therewith. In one version, the projection is between the ends of the body and in another version, the projection is near the closed end of the body. The projections give added traction required for muddy or grassy surfaces. In another version of the sock body, the normally lower wall of the body can be wedge-shaped to elevate the heel of the horse in case the hoof surface has been worn or rasped down too much.

Abstract: A durable, resilient plastic horseshoe including a first plastic polymer having a first durometer, and a second plastic polymer having a second durometer higher than the first durometer is disclosed, wherein when the shoe is placed on a foot of a hoofed animal and the animal places weight on the foot and causes the shoe to come in contact with the ground, the first plastic polymer is simultaneously in contact with the second plastic polymer and the ground, and the second plastic polymer is in contact with the first plastic polymer and free of contact with the foot.

Abstract: A horseshoe formed of a predetermined metallic material having a central arcuate portion, an arcuate right leg portion, and an arcuate left leg portion. The arcuate leg portions have a predetermined thickness of non-metallic shock absorbing material attached to their bottom surface. The shock absorbing material has a plurality of recessed portions in its bottom surface and nail hole apertures are located therein that pass through the shock absorbing material and also the metallic material of the horseshoe. The non-metallic shock absorbing material absorbs up to 70 percent of the shock received by the horse's foot while walking or running. One embodiment of the horseshoe has ceramic chips embedded in the bottom surface of the arcuate leg portions to help prevent slipping on ice or wet pavement.

Abstract: A novel shock-absorbing and protective horseshoe comprises a composite shoe that conforms to the shape of the perimeter of the horse's hoof, and from which protrude podded cleats strategically aligned and positioned below the horn of the hoof for providing the prerequisite support for the horse. Each podded cleat has an internal air chamber, which when combined with the complying shape of the external wall partially or fully collapses or deflates the transition of material during collapse, provides a most significant degree of cushioning, thus allowing a relatively high durometer elastomer for the composition of the cleats that would not otherwise provide sufficient compressibility, but has physical properties that surmount the factors of abrasion and wear. Such hard materials are identifiable as having a low frictional resistance in comparison to highly compressible, soft elastomers.

Abstract: A racing-type horseshoe having a metal shoe plate for nailing to a horse's hoof and a ground contacting base plate adapted for affixation to the sole plate by threaded fasteners which permit quick and easy replacement of the base plate.

Abstract: A shock absorbing and protective form of a horseshoe comprises a base that conforms to the shape of the perimeter of the horse's hoof, and from which protrudes a series of podded cleats that are strategically aligned and positioned below the horn of the hoof providing the prerequisite support for the horse. Each podded cleat has an internal air chamber, that when combined with the complying shape of the external wall allows partial or full collapse or deflation of this structural element effecting a most significant degree of cushioning, thus allowing a relatively high durometer elastomer for composition that would not otherwise provide sufficient compressibility, but having physical properties that surmount the factors of abrasion and wear and where such hard materials are identifiable as having a low frictional resistance in comparison to highly compressible, soft elastomers.

Abstract: A two-part horseshoe consists of a channel-shaped upper part (10) to be nailed to the horse's hoof and an exchangeable lower part (20), which is made of an elastic material and has a ridge member (22) that can be pressed up into the channel (15) of the upper part. The side walls of the channel have a plurality of inwardly extending projections (16) with end faces directed toward the channel bottom (11), and the side walls of the ridge member are formed with corresponding recesses (25) which the projections snap into when the ridge member is pressed into position in the channel. In the front portion of the lower part there is embedded a metal insert (40) having partly a locking hook (43) to cooperate with a corresponding locking hook (19) on the front side wall (13) of the upper part, partly a plate-shaped member (41) forming a toe wear bracket on the underside of the lower part.